FAQs

• Whole-Food Supplements
• Probiotics
• Storing Supplements
• FDA Approval
• Whole-istic Solutions

Whole-Food Supplements

Q. What is a whole-food supplement?

A. Vitamins are typically found in one of three forms - synthetic, crystalline and whole-food. Whole food supplements refer to vitamins as found in natural foods, unaltered in any way that might change their molecular, biological or biochemical arrangement, or their action. A whole-food supplement is comprised of complete foods that have been concentrated into supplemental form by removing only the water and fiber.

Q. Why are whole-food supplements better?

A. When whole foods are eaten, different nutrients work together in ways that are better for us than each one working alone. It is not possible to get the same results from synthetic or crystalline supplements.

By 1992, scientists had discovered over 3,200 nutrient components in food. Keep that in mind when you look at the label of your vitamin supplement with perhaps only 50-70 ingredients, and compare that product to the thousands of nutrients that naturally occur in whole-food. More is better, but it’s not about more milligrams, it’s about more diversity.

Using whole-food supplements is the only way to be certain of getting all of the benefits created in nature. Whole-foods contain complete vitamins, but isolated vitamins do not contain the complete whole-food complex. Nutritional research tends to focus on the effects of individual molecules in simple laboratory models, but these synthetic and fragmented vitamins are grossly lacking the phytonutrients and additional co-factors which are present in the food’s natural state. Very much like the difference between whole grain bread and refined white bread, the whole complex is necessary in order for the body to receive complete nutrition. Whole-food vitamins are natural and familiar to the body with all of their naturally occurring cofactors present.

Q. How can I find out if I am taking whole-food vitamins or synthetic vitamins?

A. On the surface, the way to tell the difference is simple. A whole food vitamin is just that - a food, like a carrot, spinach or broccoli. The label will list the foods. On the other hand, synthetic and crystalline vitamins are listed on the label by their chemical names, such as vitamin A palmitate, d-alpha tocopherol, ascorbic acid, etc. Unfortunately it is not always that easy to tell the difference. An important consideration when choosing a whole-food product concerns spiking. For example, acerola cherry is a good source of vitamin C, but most companies that supply it have been influenced by customer demand for mega doses. In response to this misunderstanding about how vitamins work, synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been added to the acerola cherry to boost its potency. The maximum potency of vitamin C naturally occurring in acerola cherry is about 17%.

Pure acerola provides vitamin C in its natural form, ascorbic palmitate which is alkaline rather than acid. Because it is alkaline rather than acid, it is compatible with the human digestive system and has been found to be usable even by people with digestive and stomach disorders. Because it is alkaline it is many times more bio-available and health promoting than ascorbic acid, which is of course acidic. Whole-istic Solutions Acerola C- Plus uses pure whole-food vitamins which have not been spiked with synthetics.

Q. What about studies that show the negative aspects of taking vitamins?

A. Many studies are based on subjects taking s ynthetic or crystalline ( fractionated) vitamins. These isolated vitamins eventually lead to biochemical imbalances and nutritional deficiencies and are actually linked to an increased risk of heart disease, certain types of cancers, birth defects and even DNA damage. This is no surprise when you understand that many synthetic vitamins are derived from unhealthy sources, such as coal tar and corn syrup.

Q. What is the difference between functional and therapeutic supplements?

A. The role of foundational supplementation is to replenish nutrients that are missing from our diets due to lifestyle and the environment: poor eating habits, stress, cooking and processing food, depleted and over-farmed soil, poor air and water quality and pesticides and other toxins in our food. The primary role of our foundational products is simply to replace key nutrients that are no longer available in the majority of our food supply. The foundational supplements, Digestive and Vitamin-Mineral, replenish the nutrients that everyone needs on an ongoing basis, such as digestive enzymes, probiotics, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Therapeutic supplements further assist by providing the nutrients required for specific conditions.

Q. Do any Whole-istic Solutions formulas intefere with medications?

A. The unique combination of enzymes in the Digestive and Proteolytic Plus can enhance the absorption and/or metabolism of medications, which may alter the effects of the drug. It is suggested that individuals avoid taking medications at the same time of day as taking these products. Medication should be taken 30 minutes prior to taking Digestive or 1 1/2 to 2 hours after taking Digestive. The same suggestations apply to Proteolytic Plus. People taking blood thinner medications such as cumidin should avoid taking Proteolytic Plus altogether. Individuals with specific health concerns should check with their physician prior to beginning any supplementation program.

Probitoics

Q. What are probiotics?

A. Probiotics are beneficial intestinal bacteria, also known as friendly flora. There are at least 400 kinds of microorganisms (bacteria) found in the normal digestive tract. This amounts to about three pounds of bacteria in a healthy human intestine. Since the development of refrigeration, the United States is one of the few countries where cultured food is not eaten on a regular basis. As a result, it has been shown that the average American has only about one-third the amount of probiotics necessary in the intestines.

Q. Why are they important?

A. Human health depends on the presence of probiotics in the digestive tract and other mucous membranes. Probiotics perform various beneficial functions such as helping to manufacture B vitamins, enzymes and essential fats. They clean the intestinal tract, purify the colon and promote bowel movements. More importantly, probiotics produce antibiotics and antifungals, preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and fungi. They create lactic acid, which balances intestinal pH and perform many more beneficial functions. Maintaining and promoting the growth of these beneficial bacteria while destroying the harmful strains is vital to health.

Q. Why do I need to supplement with probiotics?

A. Friendly bacteria (probiotics) can be destroyed by carbonated beverages, medications, caffeine, alcohol, antibiotics and stress. Regular use of supplemental probiotics ensures the healthy growth of needed bacteria.

Storing Supplements

Q. Where is the best place to store supplements? Do they need to be refrigerated?

A. The best place is on a shelf where they remain dry and at room-temperature or colder. None of the Whole-istic Solutions products require refrigeration. However, for optimum stability and shelf life, it is suggested that products containing probiotics and certain amino-acids (Digestive, Probiotic, Intestinal Support and Stress Support) be refrigerated.

Q. What about the stability of products?

A. There are many issues to consider when looking at Probiotics or a Probiotic blend. For example, some Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are considerably more stable than others. However, when you put them in a blend, their stability can be compromised. Despite this, the increased benefits of multiple strains outweigh the level of compromise. Whole-istic Solutions has chosen what independent tests have shown to be the most stable probiotics available. Furthermore, Whole-istic Solutions over-formulates, placing twice the amount of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the bottle than we list on the label. This ensures that the activity listed on the label is absolutely available in the capsule until well past the expiration date.

Q. What is the shelf-life for Whole-istic Solutions' products?

A. For a supplement to be “wholeistic”, the nutrients in that supplement must be fully digestible and available to the cells of the body without robbing from the body's own nutrient stores. Just taking a supplement does not guarantee that the nutrients in that supplement will be delivered to the cells of the body. The body requires coordinated enzymes, minerals, and various co-factors to be present in order for nutrients to be absorbed and delivered to the cells of the body. Without all of the cofactors, supplements may "leach" nutrients from the body's stores and enzymes will work less efficiently. Whole-istic Solutions understands and respects the interdependent relationship that exists between the nutrients naturally occurring in food.

FDA Approval

Q. Are products from Whole-istic Solutions FDA approved?

A. The FDA only approves substances considered to be drugs, not foods. Therefore, FDA approval process is not relevant to Whole-istic Solutions' all-natural products. Nevertheless, every Whole-istic Solutions product is in full compliance with all applicable FDA regulations and all ingredients in Whole-istic Solutions products are in the FDA’s GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) category.

Q. Are the ingredients in Whole-istic Solutions' products organic?

A. Most raw ingredients are certified organic. When a conventional ingredient is used, it is assayed to verify a high nutrient content, and to be pesticide and chemical free.

Q. Does the FDA list Whole-istic Solutions' products as whole-foods or vitamins?

A. Whole-istic Solutions’ products are considered to be whole foods under FDA guidelines.

Whole-istic Solutions

Q. What does "wholeistic" mean, and why is it important?

A. For a supplement to be “wholeistic”, the nutrients in that supplement must be fully digestible and available to the cells of the body without robbing from the body's own nutrient stores. Just taking a supplement does not guarantee that the nutrients in that supplement will be delivered to the cells of the body. The body requires coordinated enzymes, minerals, and various co-factors to be present in order for nutrients to be absorbed and delivered to the cells of the body. Without all of the cofactors, supplements may "leach" nutrients from the body's stores and enzymes will work less efficiently. Whole-istic Solutions understands and respects the interdependent relationship that exists between the nutrients naturally occurring in food.